UK suspends gender pay gaps reporting enforcement

March 24, 2020

Representational image (iStock)

THE Government Equalities Office (GEO) and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on Tuesday (24) took the decision to suspend enforcement of the gender pay gap deadlines for 2019/20 reporting.

The suspension of the enforcement of the gender pay gap reporting deadlines is due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The decision means there will be no expectation on employers to report their data, an official statement said.

“We recognise that employers across the country are facing unprecedented uncertainty and pressure at this time. Because of this we feel it is only right to suspend enforcement of gender pay gap reporting this year,” said minister for Women & Equalities, Liz Truss, and EHRC Chair, David Isaac, in a joint statement.

More than 3000 employers have already reported their data via the gov.uk website this year (26% of expected reporters) and GEO will continue to provide support to employers in reporting their data should they wish to do so.

In normal circumstances, the EHRC has the power to investigate employers that fail to report their gender pay gap data and could face an unlimited fine after court action, the statement further said.

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